Feed system for cartridges



Jan. M, 1969 J. A. BADALI ETAL 3,421,408

7 FEED SYSTEM FOR CARTRIDGES Filed Jan. 31, 1967 v INVENTORS.' JOSEPH A.BADAL/ ARNOLD L. FOWLER [m BY Jan. 14, 1969 A} BADAL. ETAL 3,421,408

FEED SYSTEM FOR CARTRIDGES Filegl Jain. 31, 1967 Sheet '2 of 2 p I. w IF r I C. 52 4f Z0 INVENTORS.

4 JOSEPH A. BA DALI 2Z0 2 ARNOLD L. FOWLER A TTQRNEY United States ateF1;

3,421,408 FEED SYSTEM FOR CARTRIDGES Joseph A. Badali, 592 Shore Drive,Branford, Conn. 06405, and Arnold L. Fowler, 2569 Long Hill Road,Guilford, Conn. 06437 Filed Jan. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 612,926 US. Cl.89-33 3 Claims Int. 'Cl. F41d 9/00; 1541c 25/00; F41c 11/00 ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLGSURE A firearm having a magazine extending rearwardly from aposition below the opening of the cartridge chamber is provided with acartridge cutoff including an arm pivotally attached to the firearm andhaving a projection adapted to extend into the path of the breech bolt.The cutoff also includes a U-shaped portion extending transversely ofsaid arm and forming two lips spaced apart in the direction of the pathof the cartridges and movable into and out of the path of the cartridgesin the magazine. Spring means is provided to urge the lips into the pathof the cartridges.

This invention relates to a cartridge feeding system and moreparticularly to an improved system for feeding various sized cartridgesfrom the butt end of a firearm to the receiver.

In cartridge feed systems designed for feeding from the butt end of thefirearm difliculty has been experienced in designing a system that canaccommodate 22 caliber short, long, and long rifle roundsinterchangeably. Such difiiculty is due primarily to the differences inlength, bullet contour, and center of gravity between the 22 calibershort and 22 caliber long rifle.

Feed systems of the type adapted to feed from the butt end of the riflegenerally include a cutoff operable to stop the feeding of the secondround before it enters the feed chamber when the bolt is open. However,a single cutoff properly designed for a long rifle cartridge would, inmany instances, double feed (feed two instead of one) when used withshorts. In other instances while not actually feeding two shorts therewould be a jamming of two rounds in the breech which would prohibit theclosing of the bolt. A cutoff properly designed for shorts would fail tofeed a long rifle properly because two cartridges would jam in the feedchamber. If a compromise is tried and the cutoff located between theposition required for long rifle and the position required for shorts,the result is a high feed malfunction rate.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acartridge feed system which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties.

More particularly it is an object to provide a cartridge feed system forfeeding cartridges from the butt end of a firearm.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tubular cartridgefeed system having an improved cutoff means operable to prevent jammingor double feeding when cartridges of different lengths areinterchangeably used.

These and other objects may be accomplished according to a preferredembodiment of the invention through the provision of cutoff meanspositioned in the throat of a tubular magazine feed having two spacedcartridge engaging lips, one being designed to be contacted by the headof the second round when one size cartridge is used and the seconddesigned to be engaged by the head of the second round when cartridgesof a different size are used.

A floating feed ramp is provided having ramp means 3,421,4d8 PatentedJan. '14, I969 thereon and being spring biased upwardly toward thebreech whereupon when the bolt of the firearm is opened, the feed rampmoves the first cartridge upwardly into a position to be engaged by thehead of the bolt. When the bolt engages the cartridge and moves itforward, the rim of the cartridge feeds up the ramps into properposition in relation to the axis of the bolt.

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing description and to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken through thereceiver section of a firearm embodying the present invention showingthe bolt in the breech open position and the feeding of 22 caliber shortcartridges;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, horizontal sectional view taken along thelines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the bolt in thebreech closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the feeding of 22caliber long rifle cartridges, and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing the bolt in thebreech closed position.

Referirng to the drawings, a tubular feed guide 2 embodying the featuresof the present invention is shown attached to a receiver 4-. Thereceiver 4- includes a barrel 6 connected to the forward end thereof inany approved manner. A bolt 8 is mounted for reciprocal movement in thebreech portion of the receiver 4 and includes a head 10 havinghorizontally opposed lugs 12 adapted to extend into oppositely disposedgrooves 14 in the receiver 4.

The tubular feed guide 2 extends into an elongated opening 16 in thereceiver 4 and is held in place by means of a suitable clamp 18. One endof the clamp 18 is attached to the receiver 4 by means of a screw 20 andthe other end includes a channel-shaped portion in engagement with theforward bottom surface 22 of the tubular feed guide 2. The tubular feedguide 2 is preferably made from a plastic material in two halves andheld together by means of a horseshoe-type clip 24.

The tubular feed guide 2 includes a rearward tubular portion 26 adaptedto communicate with a magazine tube in the butt stock of the firearm anda forward feed portion 28 having a forward opening 29 communicating withthe breech portion of the receiver 4.

The feed portion 28 of the tubular feed guide 2 includes spaced feedlips 3t extending substantially tangential with the internal surface ofthe receiver 4 covering a portion of the opening 29 and a forward feedsurface 32, concave in cross section, and tapering upwardly intoalignment with the forward inner surface of the receiver 4. A floatingfeed ramp 34 is mounted for limited vertical movement beneath theforward opening 29 of the forward feed portion 28 and the feed lips 31)and includes legs 36 having turned-in flanges 38 mounted in suitablegrooves 40 in the internal surface of the tubular feed guide 2. A springmember 42 is mounted between a suitable counterbore 44 in the tubularfeed guide 2 and the bottom surface of the feed ramp 34 to bias the feedramp 34 upwardly. The forward portion of the feed ramp 34 is providedwith spaced upwardly extending wings 4 5 having their top portionsslightly folded over to hold the cartridge until it is pushed through bythe bolt 8. The rearward surfaces 47 of the wings 45 taper forwardly andupwardly.

A cutoff 46 includes an arm portion 48 positioned outside of the tubularfeed guide 2 and mounted for pivotal movement about pin 50 extendingthrough the receiver 4. A U-shaped member 51 forming two spaced cutofflips 52 and 54 extends transversely from the arm portion 48 attherearward end thereof into a slot 56 in the tubular feed guide 2. Theupper surfaces of each of the lips are generally concave. A lobe 53extends upwardly from the arm portion 48 into the breech portion of thereceiver 4.

A wire spring 60 having a hook at one end positioned in a suitableopening in the clamp 13 is held between the clamp 18 and the bottomsurface of the tubular feed guide 2 and extends rearwardly intoengagement with the base of the U-shaped member 51.

A spring biased follower 62 is positioned rearwardly of the cartridgesin the feed guide 2 to urge the cartridges forwardly in the tubular feedguide 2.

In operation, when the bolt 8 is in the breech open position as shown inFIGURES 1 and 5, the spaced cutoff lips 52 and 54 are urged upwardlyabout pin 5! by spring 60 where they are in a position to be abutted bythe rim of the cartridge. Accordingly, when cartridges are first loadedinto the tubular feed guide 2, with the bolt 8 in the breech openposition, the cutoff 46 will be in its cartridge engaging position sothat the follower 62 will urge cartridges forwardly until the rimportion of the first cartridge engages the rearward most cutoff lip 54.This will be true no matter what size cartridge is loaded.

However, when 22 caliber short are loaded into the tubular feed guide 2and the bolt 8 is moved into its breech closed position therebydepressing the cutoff 46 by means of the bolt 8 contacting anddepressing lobe 58 to pivot the cutoff 46 downwardly about pin 50', thefollower 62 will urge all the cartridges forwardly in the tubular feedguide 2 until the feed ramp 34 is depressed and the forward mostcartridge is wedged into the space between the bottom surface of thebolt 8 and the ramp 34 in the manner shown in FIGURE 4. When the bolt 8is then opened into the position shown in FIGURE 1, the cutoff will beurged upwardly and the follower 62 will urge the cartridges slightlyforwardly until the rim of the second cartridge abuts the forward cutofflip 52 preventing further movement of all the cartridges. At the sametime, the feed ramp 34, under the influence of spring 42 will moveupwardly urging the forward most cartridge upwardly until the headportion of the cartridge engages the spaced feed lips 36 with a portionthereof protruding through the space between the feed lips 30 into thebreech of the receiver 4 in a position to be contacted by the head ofthe bolt.

When the bolt 8 is again closed, the bolt head 10 contacts the head ofthe forward most cartridge forcing it forwardly through the wings 45 ofthe feed ramp 34 until the rim contacts the rearward surfaces 47 of thewings 45. Because of the taper of the rearward surface 47, the rim ofthe cartridge will be cammed upwardly into proper position in relationto the bolt head 10 while at the same time the forward feed surface 32will urge the nose of the cartridge upwardly. Since the cutoff 46 isdepressed as the bolt 8 is closed, the remaining cartridge will then beurged upwardly until the forward most one is wedged into the spacebetween the bottom surface of the bolt 8 and the ramp 34. When the boltis again opened, the feed guide 2 will function as described above withthe forward cutoff lip 52 always being engaged by the second cartridgeto prevent improper feeding.

In the case of 22 caliber long rifle, when the bolt 8 is closed and thecutoff 46 depressed by means of the bolt 8 contacting the lobe 58 andpivoting the cutoff 46 downwardly about pin 50, the follower 62 willurge all such cartridges forward until the feed ramp 34 is depressed andthe forward most cartridge is wedged into the space between the bottomsurface of the bolt 8 and the feed ramp 34 in the manner shown in FIGURE6. It will be noted that, because of the length of the 22 caliber longrifle, the rim of the second cartridge is positioned behind the rearwardmost cutoff lip 54. When the bolt 8 is then opened, the follower 62 willforce the cartridges forwardly until the rim of the second one abuts therearward most cutoff lip 54 and further movement of the cartridge isprevented. At the same time, the feed ramp 34 moves upwardly under theinfluence of the spring 42 whereupon the rim of the first cartridgeengages the feed lip 30 with a portion of the head extending through thespace between the feed lips 30' into a position to be engaged by thebolt head 10.

When the bolt 8 is closed, the bolt head 10 abuts the head of the firstcartridge pushing it forwardly against the rearward surfaces 47 of thewings '45 which cam the head upwardly into proper position in relationto the bolt head 10 while the forward feed surface 32 cams the nose ofthe cartridge upwardly. This above-described action is repeated for eachopening and closing of the bolt 8.

With the above-described arrangement it is also possible to feed anycombination of 22 caliber short and 22 caliber long rifle cartridges.The combined axial length of the short and long rifle cartridge is suchthat when the bolt 8 is closed, and the cutoff 46 depressed, the rim ofthe second cartridge will be positioned to the rear of the rearwardcutoff lip 54 whereby when the bolt 8 is opened, the rearward cutoff lip54 will be abutted by the rim of the second cartridge preventing furthermovement of the cartridges. The first cartridge, whether it be a 22caliber long rifle or 22 caliber short will be in a position to be movedupwardly by the feed ramp 34 under the influence of its spring 42 into aposition whereby the head thereof can be engaged by the bolt 8 uponforward movement thereof.

Because of the similarities of axial length between a 22 caliber longrifle and 22 caliber long, the above-described magazine can also beloaded with 22 caliber longs. The functioning of the cutoff 46 will bethe same as that described above for the 22 caliber long rifle.

Although reference has been made to a particular embodiment of thepresent invention, various modifications will readily suggest themselvesto those skilled in the art and reference should be made to the appendedclaims to determine the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a repeating firearm construction; a receiver; a barrel attached tosaid receiver and having a cartridge chamber rearwardly thereof; breechbolt means movable in said receiver between a breech open and a breechclosed position; a magazine positioned below the opening of saidcartridge chamber and extending rearwardly of the firearm, said magazinehaving an opening communicating with the interior of said receiver;follower means positioned in said magazine for urging cartridges thereininto a position to be contacted by said breech bolt means; cartridgecutoff means including an arm pivotally attached to said firearm, saidarm having a projection adapted to extend into the path of said breechbolt means, and a U-shaped portion extending transversely of said armforming two lips spaced apart in the direction of the path of saidcartridges and movable into and out of the path of the cartridges insaid magazine; and spring means engaging the bottom of said U-shapedportion to urge said lips into the path of said cartridges.

2. In a repeating firearm construction, a receiver, a barrel attached tosaid receiver and having a cartridge chamber rearwardly thereof, abreech bolt means movable in said receiver between a breech open and abreech closed position, a magazine position below the opening of saidcartridge chamber and extending rearwardly of the firearm, said magazinehaving an opening communicating with the interior of said receiver,follower means positioned in "said magazine for urging cartridgestherein into a position to be contacted by said breech bolt means,cartridge cutoff means pivotally attached to said firearms and includinga pair of spaced lips movable into and out of the path of cartridges insaid magazine, said lips being spaced such that one of said lips isadapted to be engaged by the rim of a cartridge of one length and theother of said lips is adapted to be engaged by the rim of a cartridge ofa different length, spaced feed lips adjacent a portion of the openingof said receiver, and elevator means positioned below the feed lips formoving a cartridge upwardly until its rim engages said lips with aportion of the head of the cartridge extending into said receiver in aposition to be engaged by said breech bolt means, said elevator meanscomprising a ramp mounted in said magazine for limited movement towardand away from the opening thereof and resilient means biasing said ramptoward said opening.

3. In the firearm of claim 2, said ramp having wings thereon forgripping the body of a cartridge, said wings having a cam surface alongits rearward edge to urge a rim of a cartridge upwardly into thereceiver as said breech bolt means engages said cartridge and moves ittoward said cartridge chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,214,071 9/ 1940 Swebilius42--17 2,634,536 4/ 1953 Sefried 42-17 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,143 1881 GreatBritain.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, Primary Examiner.

STEPHEN C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

